"What--what, Polly?" They crowded up to her again.
"Why, I've forgotten I was to go at once to Mrs. Sterling's, and she's been
waiting. If Joel comes, send--him--over." The last words came back in a
little shout, for Polly was off.
"Oh, dear me!" exclaimed Percy discontentedly, losing all thought of the
attractions in Ben's room, "now Polly will be gone all the whole afternoon,
I 'most know."
"Let's tag her," proposed Van cheerfully, not caring to get upstairs first,
since Percy wasn't going to race with him, "I will; come on!"
"No, no," said Percy, in alarm, "she won't like that. Think of something
else."
"I've thought of one thing, and you won't do it," said Van composedly,
sitting down on the very chair Polly had left. "Now it's your turn."
"But it was no good--that old thing you thought of," retorted Percy, in
disdain; "no one could do it."
"I thought it out, anyway," repeated Van obstinately, "and you wouldn't do
it, so I'm not going to think up anything else till you have thought
something, Percy Whitney."
"Well, you needn't be so cross," said Percy sourly, and squaring up to his
chair.
"I'm not cross," contradicted Van, looking up at him with a very red face.
"Yes, you are, just as cross as a snapping-turtle," said Percy, trying to
think of the worst thing he had encountered, and quite pleased as he saw
its effect on Van.
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